​Kane County was selected as an award winner in the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge! Just 50 were chosen to be in this challenge program, a partnership of the American Public Health Association, the National Association of Counties and the Aetna Foundation.

In order to improve program performance, equity, and make sure that programs represent their communities, we are beginning the process of transitioning programs to a model of community engagement. The Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge is just the first step toward this positive change.

We have accepted the challenge to give everyone a voice. Childhood obesity, mental health, tobacco use, and inequities in income levels, education, and health outcomes across the board have emerged as issues critical to improving the health of Kane County residents. While work is currently being done, there is an opportunity to better engage individual residents in a manner that provides them with a larger voice and more authority over program decisions.